Govt can’t interfere in certification process: I&B officials

New Delhi: With the row over film ‘UdtaPunjab’ escalating, Information and Broadcasting ministry officials today asserted that the certification process is independent and even court verdicts have made it clear that the government does not have much role in it. Their reaction came after co-producer Anurag Kashyap yesterday lashed out at Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani over the proposed cuts in the film, calling him “oligarch” and “dictator”, and dragged in I&B ministry in the controversy saying he got no help from it.

“The process is quite clear that filmmakers can approach the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) in case they are not satisfied with the decisions of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Court guidelines also make it clear that in such matters it is not for the I&B ministry to take matters in its own hands,” an official said when contacted. Official sources cited a judgement in the matter Union of India vs K M Shankarappa given by a double bench of Supreme Court in November 2000, where it felt that a provision which gave the Centre powers to intervene and review matters pending before the certification board or the appellate tribunal was a travesty of rule of law.

“The apex court had in the verdict on November 28, 2000 held that section 6(1) of Cinematograph Act which granted the Centre power of review and revision over decisions of the Board or Appellate Tribunal was a travesty of the rule of law,” they said. It it very clear that a secretary or minister cannot sit in appeal or revision over decisions of FCAT, which consists of experts and decides matters quasi-judicially, they said. Pointing to the court judgement, they added that at the highest, Government itself may apply to the tribunal for a review, if circumstances so warrant, but the government would be bound by the ultimate decision of the tribunal, they added.

Officials, however, added that the ministry is in the process of streamlining the film certification process and the first part of recommendations submitted by the Shyam Benegal committee are already being examined. Seeking to dismiss apprehensions that the tribunal may take long to clear films, the officials referred to another film ‘Raman Raghav 2’, which was directed by Kashyap, and said that it came before FCAT on May 29 and an order was passed on May 31.PTI